A MOTHER who lost her two-year-old daughter to meningitis has had all her precious mementoes stolen when someone snatched her handbag.

Maureen Davies, of Elmsfield Avenue, Norden, was shopping in the town's Asda store on Saturday with her husband William when someone grabbed her black handbag from her shopping trolley.

The bag contained bank cards and £400 cash, but, more importantly to the couple, the only remaining photograph of their daughter Jemma, who died in 1985, and a lock of her hair. The bag also contained pictures of their two other children and Mrs Davies' deceased parents.

Mrs Davies said: "Our daughter Jemma fell ill and a doctor called round to our house. He immediately took her to Birch Hill Hospital and we never saw her alive again. That is why the picture and the lock of hair are so important to us.

"When I realised the bag was missing I was distraught and couldn't stop shaking and crying and I couldn't sleep all Saturday night. Every time I think about it or talk about it I start to cry.

"I would ask whoever stole the bag to return it to Rochdale police station and say they have found it.

"I am not interested in pressing any charges, I just want the bag and the memories they contain returned to me.

"I am not bothered about my purse or the money and we stopped the bank cards straight away before anyone could use them."

David Gaffin, Asda store manager, said he had worked at the Rochdale branch for 10 months and this was the first incident he had come across of a handbag snatch.

He said: "We have security staff operating in the store and CCTV cameras, but at this time of year we would ask the public to be extra vigilant against opportunist thieves.

"We were very upset for this particular lady, who was distraught, and we hope that she gets her mementoes back."